RAFAEL HAYASHI

The conflicts between ‘society’ and the ‘individual’ are the central theme of his work. His ideas and works are heavily influenced by his experiences of life in São Paulo in Brazil, the city where he was born, raised and currently lives. The ongoing struggle and the strength needed not to be swallowed up by this giant mega-city appears in his paintings. The colossal shapes and forms arise from great masses of paint. The paint and ink is added, removed and shaped by the artist’s hands and pieces of fabric - creating volumes, tones and light masses. The visual style of his work has influences from oriental art, in that many feature Ukiyo-e ( Japonese print ) as well as from contemporary painting with all its strength, precision and expressiveness. His work also has great reference from artists like Cai Quo Quiang, Hiroshige and Yang Shaobin.